I love September! This is the month that marks the end of Summer along with an occasional glimpse of the cool evenings and nights that signal the return of one of my favorite seasons of the year, Autumn. It is with eager anticipation that Lee and I look forward to the changing colors and a relief from the oppressive heat we experienced in July and August.
This month is also a reminder that at this time last year, Lee was in rejection to his new lung. Even after he had been given the strong doses of steroids, he did not respond. Almost the entire month of September 2011 was spent with visits to Duke and the very harsh treatment with RATG. How fortunate Lee was to have been able to receive the medication in the early stages of rejection. The rejection was halted, and with frequent return trips the following six months, he was declared rejection-free in March 2012.
As I type this blog, I am watching Lee from the sunroom windows as he is enjoying the outdoors. He does not stay inside during these days. He only returns for lunch (and sometimes does not do that, preferring instead to eat out with the guys). He is doing fantastic! Our lives are almost back to where they were three years ago prior to his illness in November 2009. Each day he has plans for some job to be done on the farm. He has enjoyed reaping the late Summer harvest of green beans, ocra, and peppers. I have complied by preserving any and all that he brings to me. Our freezers are filled and the shelves in the basement are filled with various canned goods. All that in addition to the honey from his hard-working "girls"in the hives.
Even though he sold his herd of black angus cattle to our neighbor, we are still able to enjoy them as they continue to reside in our pastures that the current owner of the herd leases. From my vantage point today, I can enjoy the young calves as they play, always under the watchful eye of their mothers, only a few feet away. In the distance, I see the persimmon tree, and it is beginning to show the vivid orange color of the fruit. I may even get industrious enough to make Lee some persimmon pudding this year!
Life is wonderful! We seem to be moving effortlessly from one season to the other and are eagerly anticipating the holidays that will be approaching in a few short months. Most of our grandchildren are now teens or adults. We, do, however still have three grandsons, ages 6, 9, and 11. Our great grandson, Easton Lee is now almost 19 months old and we have been fortunate to be able to spend time with him almost each week! He is an adorable, busy boy who has learned to say "Nana".....of course, I love that!
It is hard to imagine what life would have been like today had Lee not received his lung transplant. I do not go into that non-existant world because Lee was given another chance to live......and live he does! He does not waste one minute of his day. He enjoys his life, his children, grandchildren, all of his family, neighbors, and friends. He continues to meet challenges with strong-will and determination each day. Our gratefulness for his extended life knows no boundaries......................................
More Later............................................................Brenda
